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Australia could be forced into a significant shuffle of their batting order if Ricky Ponting’s elbow injury keeps him out of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.
By drafting young opener Phillip Hughes instead of a specialist No.3 as cover for Ponting, Australia must contemplate breaking the successful union between Shane Watson and Simon Katich if the Australian skipper succumbs to injury and is absent from the MCG.
Watson and Katich posted century stands in the last two Tests against the West Indies and in the 10 innings they have batted together since the Ashes, have averaged starts of 66. Watson’s average is 50 during that period.
If Ponting does miss the Test, Australia will either play Hughes in an unfamiliar position of first drop, or send one of Katich or Watson to No.3 and open with Hughes.
They could even pair Hughes and Katich together, play Watson at six and have Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke and Marcus North all move up a spot.
Australia expect Ponting to overcome the tendon damage he suffered when hit by a Kemar Roach delivery on day one of the third Test at the WACA Ground, but will not be able to assess his fitness until he bats at training on Wednesday.
Australia also named paceman Peter Siddle in their 13-man squad after he overcame hamstring soreness, but could not consider fellow quick Ben Hilfenhaus, whose knee soreness flared on the weekend.
Hilfenhaus might not play any of the three Tests against Pakistan as Australia consider the best way of treating the knee tendonitis that has sidelined him since he was man of the match in the first Test against the West Indies in November.
Hilfenhaus took four wickets from eight overs for club side University in Hobart on Saturday, but experienced soreness afterwards and faces an extensive rehabilitation.
“Ben will now meet with Cricket Australia medical staff to determine the best course of action and plan his rehabilitation for the coming weeks,” Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said on Monday.
Siddle is set to replace Victorian teammate Clint McKay, who took one wicket in Perth on debut, and will gain match practice against NSW in a one-day game at the SCG on Wednesday.
Hughes, 21, was included in the squad after good recent form which included a century for NSW in the first innings of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria in Newcastle.
The left-hander made a barnstorming start to Test cricket in South Africa in February, but was dropped after the second Test against England at Lord’s in July.
That dumping was a controversial one given Hughes averaged 52.44 in his first five Tests and was only given two matches in England.
But former NSW coach Geoff Lawson saw Hughes smash 122 on Saturday and was pleased to report the trademark flair and surety had returned.
“He looked back to that scintillating, stroke-playing form that we saw get him into the Test team in the first place,” Lawson told radio station 2KY.
Pakistan completed their warm-up match against Tasmania on Monday with the best of a draw in Hobart, and will fly to Melbourne on Tuesday.
Australian squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.
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